Remedies (Origins and actions)

Aconite
Fevers, sore throats, coughs, influenza, croup, earaches,
and sore eyes, and also emotional states such as anxiety,
fright, and shock.

The remedy is derived from monkshood, a plant whose
beautiful but poisonous flowers are shaped like a monk's
head cowl. Aconite is best used in the first stages
of an illness, especially when fear and anxiety are
present.

Ant Tart
An important Cough remedy.

Antimonium tartaricum is prepared from the chemical
tartar emetic. It affects the mucous membranes of the
lungs, and helps a weak person to cough up the trapped
mucus (phlegm). It also aids formation of the spots
in chickenpox, which is important to ensure the disease
progresses.

Apis
Various types of swelling and inflammation, such as
animal bites and stings, also measles and mumps, sore
throats, sore red eyes and fevers.

The remedy comes from the honey bee, and the symptom
pattern mimcs the bee's sting. Apis is an important
quick-acting remedy where there is inflammation, and
especially oedema - swelling with excessive fluid in
the body tissues.

Arg Nit
Emotional states such as nervousness, anxiety, and panic
attacks.

Argentum nitricum is produced from a crystalline chemical,
silver nitrate. It is a major remedy for anxiety states
involving anticipation, especially worry about a forthcoming
event or ordeal.

Arnica
Bruises and similar injuries where the skin is unbroken,
and mental and physical shock.

Arnica is prepared from the daisylike herb of the same
name, also known as fall herb, that usually grows in
mountainous areas. It is the most important of the homeopathic
injury remedies, and acts on the soft tissues, including
the muscles and blood vessels. It can be applied as
a cream or taken in pill form.

This remedy is prepared from the infamously poisonous
substance arsenic (arsenious oxide). It is important
for both short-term acute and long-term chronic ailments.
It acts especially well on the respiratory system, and
on the hole digestive tract including the stomach and
intestines.

Belladonna is made from the well known deadly nightshade,
a tall plant with large glossy, black, poisonous berries.
It is a major short-term or acute remedy for all kinds
of fevers and feverish illnesses, especially in the
first stages.

BryoniaCoughs, colds, influenza, and bronchitis, also stomach
upsets, headaches, mumps, and injuries such as joint
sprains and minor dislocations.

Origin and actions

White bryony is a common climbing plant found throughout
Europe, and its roots yield this remedy. It can help
many varied problems, but for the maximum effect, it
is important that the symptom picture fits very closely.

Cal Carb
A remedy for many illnesses, provided the symptoms fit.
It is often needed when growing or going through major
developmental stages. It is mainly a long-term constitutional
remedy, especially for children. It use is best left
to the Homeopathic practitioner.

Calcarea carbonica is made from a type of lime, prepared
from the middle layer of oyster shells.

Calendula
Open wounds, cuts, sores, burns, and similar injuries.

Caledula is derived from the leaves and flowers of the
marigold, a familiar herb or pot plant with deep orange
petals. Caledula speeds up healing, and prevents wounds
from becoming infected and turning septic.

Cantharis
Burns and scalds of many different kinds, and the bladder
inflammation of cystitis.

Cantharis is prepared from an insect - the brilliant
green beetle known as the Spanish Fly. It is an important
first aid remedy for minor burns, and for other pains
that feel burning and fiery. It also has a healing effect
on the bladder, urethra, and other parts of the urinary
tract, where burning pain is the key symptom.

Carbo Veg
Fainting and Collapse.

Carbo vegetabilis is prepared from charcoal, which in
turn is usually made by part burning certain types of
wood. This remedy is normally prescribed by a homeopath,
rather than self prescribing at home. However it can
be very useful in cases of fainting, since it helps
to increase the oxygen content of the circulating blood.

Chamomilla
Asthma, earache, toothache, teething and colic. It is
one of the ABC remedies for children, the others being
Aconite and Belladonna.

This remedy is made from the common chamomile, a member
of the daisy family that grows wild over most of Europe.
It strongly affects the nervous system, and should be
considered only where the illness involves irritability
or bad temper, especially in children.

China
Fainting and collapse, also fevers.

China is prepared from the dried bark of the quinaquina
tree, also called Peruvian bark, cinchona, or quinine.
The tree grows in the high Andes mountains of South
America. This remedy affects blood and circulation,
and is usually prescribed by homeopaths on a long-term
basis. It is useful for a variety of problems where
the cause is extreme weakness due to loss of vital body
fluids.

Drosera
Coughs and whooping cough

Drosera is the common or round leaved sun dew, a small
plant that lives on heaths, marshes, and peaty bogs
across the Northern Hemisphere. The glistening sticky
droplets on its leaves trap insects, which the plant
dissolves and absorbs. The remedy is prepared from the
fresh whole plant and affects the throat, lungs, and
respiratory airways. It is a major cough remedy.

GelsemiumInfluenza, measles, and worry or anxiety.

Gelsemium is prepared from the bark of the root of the
yellow jasmine, a North American plant. The remedy acts
mainly on the muscles and the nerves controlling them
(the motor nerves). It is one of the homeopathy's most
important remedies for influenza. It can also be helpful
in emotional states involving anxiety and fear of future
events.

Hepar Sulph
Coughs and croup, localized infections or septic states
such as boils, abscesses, earaches, sore throats, tonsillitis,
and toothache, also bronchitis.

Hepar sulph is a complex mixture of the minerals calcium
and sulphur, chiefly as calcium sulphide. It strongly
affects the nerves, and so it is best used when the
sufferer is irritable. The remedy also works well where
where sepsis is present.

Hypericum
Bruises and other injuries, especially on sensitive
parts of the body.

Hypericum is prepared from the herb St. John's Wort,
using the whole fresh plant. It is mainly a remedy for
injuries, with particular actions on the parts of the
body rich in sensitive nerves. It can be applied directly
as a cream or diluted tincture (one part of tincture
in ten parts of water), or taken in the usual pill form.

Ignatia
Emotional upsets, shocks, and traumas.

Ignatia is prepared from the bitter seeds of the St.
Ignatius' bean, a beautiful tree found in Eastern Asia.
It is one of the most useful remedies for "emotional
first aid", and it can ease many behavioural and
mood problems that have an obvious emotional underlay.
It may also help physical ailments that have a marked
emotional or mental content.

Ipecac
Nausea, vomiting, asthma and whooping cough.

Ipecac is prepared from the dried root of a small South
American shrub of the same name, also called ipecacuanha
or the cephaelis bush. It acts mainly on the digestive
tract and also on the respiratory airways. Its outstanding
feature is nausea - whatever the ailment. If the illness
has nausea as a predominant symptom, this remedy may
help.

Kali Bich
Excellent remedy for colds and sinusitis, although
chronic sinusitis is best treated by a professional
homeopath.

Lachesis is prepared from the poison of the bushmaster
snake. It is best prescribed by a homeopath, since it
is a major constitutional and chronic, or long-term,
remedy. However it can be used at home for throat infections.
Because of its emotional characteristics, it is also
important for treating female problems.

Ledum
Injuries, including animal bites and stings.

Lycopodum
Indigestion, sore throats, and many "constitutional"
problems, anxiety or a lack of self confidence.

Lycopodium is prepared from the clubmoss plant. Homeopaths
prescribe it mainly as a long-term constitutional remedy,
which acts deeply on the digestive and urinary systems.
Such a deep action means that it can help a wide variety
of problems, provided the symptom picture fits fairly
closely.

Mag Phos
Colic, cramping pains such as period pains, sciatica,
toothache, and earche.

Magnesia phosphorica is a mineral compound of magnesium
and phosphorous. It acts directly on the nerves and
muscles and its chief use is for lessening or killing
pain. It helps against various types pain, but it is
most effective when the symptom picture fits closely.

Merc Viv
Infected or septic states such as boils and abscesses,
sore throats and tonsillitis, earaches, toothaches,
mouth ulcers, and chickenpox and mumps.

Mercurius is prepared from liquid metal mercury (quicksilver)
or its complex salt ammonium nitrate of mercury. It
strongly affects the body's glands and their secretions.
It comes into its own when sepsis has set in, and an
infected area has turned septic or "gone bad"

Natrum Mur
Grief and similar emotional problems, including resentment.

This remedy is basically sodium chloride, or common
salt. It is a major constitutional remedy and works
deeply on the emotions. Natrum muriaticum can aid many
chronic or long-term problems, if the symptoms and personality
features fit. On a physical level, it affects the body's
water balance.

Nux vomica is derived from the seeds of the strychnine-containing
poison nut tree, which grows in Eastern Asia. It is
a major remedy for first aid situations, especially
those affecting the digestive system. It is also a very
important constitutional and chronic, or long term,
remedy.

Phosphorous
Sore throats and tonsillitis, also mastitis and other
nipple or br**st problems.

The mineral phosphorous is an essential constituent
of the body, particularly the bones. As an important
constitutional remedy, it can help many problems where
the personality and symptoms agree. It has special effects
on the digestive tract and respiratory airways.

Pulsatilla, made from the pasque flower, is an essential
part of a basic homeopathy kit. It is a major constitutional
remedy. If the emotional symptoms fit, it can be very
helpful, even if the physical problem does not correspond.

Rhus tox is prepared from the North American rambling
plant, poison ivy. It is an important first aid remedy
for sprains, strains, swollen joints, and similar injuries.
It can also help many other problems, provided the symptom
picture fits fairly closely.

RutaBruises, eye strains, and sprains and strains affecting
the muscles and joints.

Ruta is prepared from the herb rue, which has been treasured
through the ages for its medicinal properties. The remedy
has effects on the joints, tendons, cartilages, and
the periosteum (the membrane that covers the bones).
It is also valued for its first aid qualities and its
action on tired eyes.

Silica
Abscesses, wounds that are slow to heal, toothache and
earache, and similar localized infections.

Silica is a mineral prepared from sand or flint rock.
Homepaths tend to use it more for long-term prescriptions
than for everyday ailments. However its can be very
useful for treating pus-filled or suppurating wounds,
since it encourages the body to expel diseased tissues,
or to break down and reabsorb them.

Staphysgaria is prepared from the larkspur flower, a
member of the delphinium family. It suits sensitive
people who suppress their feelings and suffer in silence,
or who boil over with indignation. This can be a remedy
for cuts and wounds, especially when linked to feelings
of indignation or humiliation.

Sulphur
Sulphur is a major constututional and children's remedy.
It can help a large number of problems. Its
use is best left to the Homeopathic practitioner.

Sulphur is a natural element that in its raw state looks
like yellowish chalk. It is a very deep-acting remedy
on any part of the body. It helps to remove poisons
and toxins and bring them to the surface, hence its
association with skin problems.